Valley CDC to hold block party in Northampton

By NYSSA KRUSE

@NyssaKruse

Published: 06-16-2017 11:15 PM

The Valley Community Development Corp. will host a community block party, its first, from 1-4 p.m. Sunday on the old courthouse lawn in Northampton, 99 Main St.

Tenants of Valley CDC properties can enter a raffle for a free month’s rent, but they must be in attendance to win.

The event is open to the public and will offer free food, activities and music, in addition to the raffle.

Valley CDC, a nonprofit, provides free small-business advising and first-time homebuyer counseling for low- and moderate-income people. It also develops, owns and operates low-income housing units in the Pioneer Valley. The organization mostly serves Northampton, Easthampton, Hadley and Amherst, and will celebrate its 30th anniversary next April.

It’s holding the block party to raise awareness of its services.

“We want to get word out we’re here to help,” said Julia Zegarra, Valley CDC’s communications specialist.

Activities at the event will include hula-hooping, arts and crafts and a raffle for a $100 Stop & Shop gift card.

Zegarra said she can’t predict how many will show up on Sunday, because it’s the first event of its kind for the organization, but she’s hoping that at least 100 will attend.

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“We just thought it would be a fun thing to do for the community,” Zegarra said. “We hope it will be a nice day, and people will see it and stop by.”

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